The Game

The Theatre of Protests

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.The Times’ Paul Hirst joins us to discuss the reasons behind the Manc...

Will We See An All-English Final?

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.There’s a big possibility we could see an all-English Champions L...

Flippin' Ek, Son's Crying

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.Manchester City secured their first trophy of the season on Sunday - but did...

Football Is For The Fans

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Restall.Did the owners of proposed Super League clubs actually think their plan w...

The Super League And The Special One

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.As football makes all the headlines with the proposed Super League caus...

Are Chelsea The Pride Of Britain?

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea and Manchester City will represent the Premier League in the...

Bread Is Bread, Cheese Is Cheese

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Alyson Rudd.Which teams are out of the Champions League running following the weeke...

Don't Write Liverpool Off Completely

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea came away from their Champions League quarter final firs...

You Can’t Put A Price On A Good Moustache

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. The Premier League returned after the international break and so did ...

Farewell Sergio Agüero

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. As Sergio Aguero announces he’s leaving Manchester City in t...

Which System, Gareth?

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Gareth Southgate’s formation against Albania gets the England conversati...

Should We Be Going To Qatar?

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. Norway’s players protested against the human rights record in Qat...

Should Steve Bruce Walk Away?

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. After the defeat at Brighton, Steve Bruce remains defiant at Newcastle...

What's Up With The Champions League?

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson. With eight teams left in the Champions League draw, we work out our dream...

Sorry I'm Late, Mik!

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd. False nines are becoming more and more common, so are they here to stay? Ar...

20 Years Of Daniel Levy

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. There’ll be no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champion...

Just How Tall Is Luke Shaw?

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent joins us from the off to d...

The Top Four Will Be...

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester City and Manchester United both dropped points last nigh...

More Costume Changes Than Madonna

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. We delve into the world of football conspiracy theories, which seem to be i...

Did Neil Lennon Jump, Or Was He Pushed?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. Neil Lennon has finally parted company with Celtic after a disastrous season...

Is It Wrong To Substitute the Substitute?

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Things are looking good for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, but after the Ca...

Move Over, Messi..

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. The Champions League is back - Kylian Mbappé turned it on in Messi...

Does Jürgen Klopp Need A Break?

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. While people focus on the Manchester clubs and City’s lead at the top of ...

What's Up With The Cup?

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Clarke. There have been some weird football matches in the FA Cup this wee...

Are Liverpool Bad Champions?

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke. Liverpool’s title hopes look all but over following the defeat to Man...

Lightning Does Strike Twice (If You're Southampton)

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Restall. Southampton were reacquainted with an old friend - the 9-0 loss...

The Mythical Gareth Bale

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Liverpool’s ‘crisis’ doesn’t seem too serious if this past weekend...

It's Pronounced Ødegaard, OK?

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. United won at Old Trafford last night, but not the United anyone really expe...

Taxi For Lampard

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Liverpool are out of the FA Cup and off the pace in the Premier League - a...

"Manchester United Have A Chance.."

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. Chelsea have won two out of the last eight Premier League matches -...

A Missed Opportunity for Ole?

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Liverpool vs Manchester United was the predictable goalless draw a lot...

No Hugging, Please!

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Tottenham have once again dropped points from a winning position -...

The M*gic of the FA Cup

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. The FA Cup third round threw up some shocks, but was the third round a...

Is The FA Cup Under Threat?

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Manchester United fall short at the semi-finals again, but what st...

New Year, Same Chelsea

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Tom Roddy. Happy New Year! Hopefully football gets back to it’s best in 2021 - an...

The Big Fat Game Of The Year 2020

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. Liverpool once again end the calendar year on top of the Premier League, b...

Is It Clear And Obvious?

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Chelsea haven’t had a great festive period - are they complacent or ...

Do Footballers Actually Enjoy Christmas?

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester upset Jose on Sunday and everything is starting to click...

In Case of Emergency: Big Sam

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Did the best team win as Liverpool and Tottenham swapped places af...

Is This Season Actually Any Good?

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Fans continue to trickle back into stadiums, but has the 12th man shown an...

Bonus episode; Stories of our times - Where are all the gay footballers?

12 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A bonus episode, originally appearing in the Stories of our times feed.All this week, rainbow coloured bootlaces and armbands are being worn by footba...

Is Paul Pogba Worth The Hassle?

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. Manchester United have crashed out of the Champions League after a poor show...

Is Jose Falling In Love With Spurs?

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Mikel Arteta going back to Arsenal as manager was meant to be the roma...

The Curious Case of Olivier Giroud

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. The day after limited numbers of fans returned to select games in the EFL, ...

Rolling In The Deep

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and James Restall. Edinson Cavani came off the bench to turn Manchester United’s day aro...

Memories of Maradona

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Dickinson to pay tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday at the age of 60. An infa...

"I might put a fiver on Spurs for the title now.."

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. Spurs are top of the Premier League table - are things coming together ...

Time for Coach Rooney at Pride Park?

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. The Scottish celebrations continue despite missing out on Nations ...

Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. England’s defeat to Belgium seems a lot more of a positive thing than th...

"He wasn't the right man to take the FA forward.."

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft. The big changes at the FA are under the spotlight as Greg Clark...

There's a time and a place for a Panenka

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. The weekend’s games get dissected, but are Liverpool and Manchester ...

AFC Wimbledon return home and is Brendan Rodgers underrated?

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Restall. As we head back into lockdown, the pause on grassroots sport returns - b...

A century for Ole - but how many more?

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. As Ole Gunnar Solskjær takes his 100th game at Manchester United - will h...

What Makes Marcus Rashford So Special?

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Tom Roddy and the Times Chief Football Writer - Henry Winter. With Marcus Rashford impressing both ...

Is this the most open Premier League season ever?

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. With unexpected early leaders - is this the most open Premier Leag...

The Curious Case of Mesut Özil

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. The Mesut Özil situation has got even messier in the last few...

“If you’re THAT reckless on the pitch, you have to be sent off..”

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and James Restall. West Ham’s comeback against Spurs is under the spotlight, did Gare...

"The conversation about protecting English football is far from over.."

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. England are once again in focus after defeat to Denmark, with ...

Which Premier League match would you actually pay £14.95 for?

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke. The big talking point is the proposal to overhaul English football as set out in ‘Pr...

"Jordan Pickford is not the man for the job.."

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. As the dust settles on the European transfer deadline day, the Chief S...

BONUS: Stories of our Times - The end of the beautiful game as we know it?

07 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's a podcast takeover with the Stories of our Times podcast. The decision by the government to prevent fans from attending football matches in the U...

Well.. That was a crazy weekend, wasn't it?

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. After a weekend of surprising results, the debate gets heated when ...

"He's got to be second in line to Harry Kane now.."

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. They share their comfort break mishaps in solidarity with Eric Dier after ...

"The handball rule isn't the end of football!"

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Manchester City's humbling by Leicester City is dissected as praise is...

"Some EFL clubs are in for a bleak future.."

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. After this week's Government announcement that limited numbers of ...

Who deserves the blame for Manchester United's troubles?

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. After they lost to Crystal Palace over the weekend, the team discuss ju...

"He's still one of the best players in the world"

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Jonathan Northcroft. In a big week for both North London sides, they debate whether Ga...

"Spurs are the service station coffee of the Premier League"

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and James Restall to take a look back on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. T...

New season, New Game Podcast

10 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The football season is back and The Times has a new lineup for The Game podcast. Hugh Woozencroft is the new host of the show and makes his debut...

How hard should Southgate be on Foden & Greenwood?

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Gregor is back alongside Nat as they chat to Tom Roddy about more woes for West Ham, why Chelsea are like a bodybuilder skipping leg day, and the full...

4 years on from that night in Nice, are England now the real deal?

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie is joined by Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke for a trip back to Euro 2016 and England's humiliating exit at the hands of Iceland. Four years on they ...

Who are you? And what have you done with Arsenal?

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke join Natalie Sawyer for more on yet another scalp and yet another trophy for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal! But is the Spaniard...

This could get Messi...

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Roddy to reflect on an incredible week that has seen Lionel Messi hand in a transfer request a...

We need to talk about Thiago...

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke to relive this season's Champions League final. Thiago Alcantara was one of the stars of the show - bu...

The curious case of Joe Hart...

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke to discuss Joe Hart's move to Tottenham, but will he get one more chance to show the Premier League the goal...

City's inferiority complex...

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor to look at Man City's inferiority complex in the Champions League after yet another quarter-final exitMore ...

Problems north of the border, a sign of things to come?

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke on a week where Scottish football has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons! But are we expecting too much...

Is this City's best ever chance to be champions of Europe?

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Dickinson joins Nat & Gregor to ask who can stop Man City from finally winning the Champions League, whether Chelsea have actually had a good...

A-star for Parker, but Brentford will be back...

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to reflect on Scott Parker's managerial masterclass in the play-off final, a controversial week for Arsenal and a l...

Bournemouth, Brentford and boots in brown paper bags!

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Roddy joins Natalie Sawyer with all the fallout from Eddie Howe's departure at Bournemouth and some fighting talk out of the Brentford camp ahead ...

It's a double Wembley weekend!

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie and Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke to discuss Brentford booking their place in the Championship playoff final in the final game at Griffin Pa...

The longest Premier League season ever!

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie and Gregor are joined by Tom Roddy to take a look at one of the most remarkable Premier League seasons in history. Gregor's cat makes a cameo ...

The Championship finale!

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Roddy joins Nat & Gregor after the most dramatic of finishes to the Championship season! Gregor tells us which club has "bottled it" this seas...

Leeds United - the best Championship side ever?

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Ben Machell after his beloved Leeds United secured their promotion to the Premier League, but can Leeds cut it back in ...

The EFL special

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by James Restall for an EFL special looking at the race for promotion to the Premier League, an inquest into what has happ...

How City fought the law, and then won

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor for an in-depth look at how Manchester City successfully appealed their 2-year European Ban. So where next for Fina...

The irreplaceable David Silva...

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Roddy to discuss one of the final David Silva masterclasses at The Etihad, and how he should be honoured when he de...

Is the tide turning in Manchester?

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson after contrasting weekends for either side of Manchester. So should City fans be worried? And how soon w...

Are Bournemouth doomed?

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor fresh from her trip to see Bournemouth humbled at home to Newcastle. So has time run out on Eddie Howe? More on thi...

Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock - underappreciated or over the hill?

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson following the weekend's FA Cup action. Was Newcastle's defeat to Man City the end of the road for Steve ...

Time to get excited about Man United?

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss Anthony Martial becoming the first Man United player to score a Premier League hat-trick...

Arsenal, bad enough to make your blood boil!

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to look back on the first weekend of the Premier League's restart.Arsenal are in the firing line after another abje...

Referees, wrong decisions and red cards...football is back!

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to try and work out exactly what happened for the "ghost goal" at Villa Park in the restart's first...

Let the football feast begin!

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to welcome back Premier League football!Hear why they're backing Norwich to perform a great escape, which 'dysfunct...

The Cherries' sticky situation, and why we're wrong to write off Norwich

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor to discuss The Cherries sticky situation as Ryan Fraser looks set to depart Bournemouth, but is it ever ok ...

2020: the year we see a female Premier League manager?

08 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Dickinson joins Nat & Gregor to look back on a good weekend for Chelsea football club. Timo Werner agrees to join Frank Lampard's side, whils...

Black Lives Matter. So can football do more?

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Times Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins Nat & Gregor to explore the need for football to lead from the front in the battle against raci...

Why it's ok to refuse to play, and spot kicks go under the spotlight...

01 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor with news that The Championship will be back on the 20th June, but how many players out of contract at the end of t...

Premier League football is back! June 17th here we come...

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor with news that Premier League football will return on the 17th June. But are we ready?The panel debate this...

Reasons to be cheerful?

25 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Martyn Ziegler joins Nat & Gregor in what is a crucial week for the return of football in England, and why we could be seeing the light at the end...